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GOP plans 12th District debates

Two Georgia Republicans running for a chance to defeat Democratic U.S. Rep. John Barrow have agreed to participate in four primary debates.

Lawton Sack, GOP chairman of eastern Georgia’s 12th Congressional District, said Wednesday that the debates won’t be held until next year. He says Augusta businessman Rick W. Allen and former congressional aide John Stone, also of Augusta, will first meet in February and then debate three more times before the May 20 primary.

Debates will be held in Augusta, Statesboro, Dublin and Douglas.

Barrow is the last white House Democrat from the deep South. He won re-election last fall even after his seat was redrawn to favor Republicans.

Allen was the runner-up in the 2012 GOP primary in Barrow’s district. Stone ran against Barrow and lost in 2008.